Sacrificing for a disciple
I recollect the early days when Veerayatan Rajgir had just been formed. We encountered many adversities at every step. One evening Pujya Bai Maharaj and I had been undertaking some work at the foothill of Vaibharagiri. It was dusk by the time we finished the work. We started returning back to the dharamshala when it started to rain heavily. The road became so waterlogged that there was no longer any defined road. There was no place even to stand and wait. We had no choice but to cross the waterlogged road when Pujya Bai Maharaj’s foot slipped and she fell. Somehow, I managed to lift her and pull her out. There was an injury to her knees but, despite the injury, she courageously walked ahead with me. Soon we reached the outskirts of the village. Lightning was striking intensely. We were walking under a gigantic banyan tree when a huge branch fell down. Due to Guru’s blessings, we were not injured and safely reached the dharamshala. I was thinking to myself that there were so many difficulties to be faced and there is neither any means nor arrangements for the treatment for Pujya Bai Maharaj. Nor were there any people around who could support us.
It was in this unbalanced state that I asked Pujya Bai Maharaj, ‘What should we do? Amongst such hardships how is it possible to continue with our work?’ With much love and unwavering faith, she said, ‘With the path which we have chosen to follow, there is not even the slightest option of turning back. If such small obstacles make you frightened, then how will you be able to carry out this noble work?’
I replied to her, ‘Don’t you feel it is because of me that you have had to bear all these adversities?’ Pujya Bai Maharaj responded, ‘All this which I am doing is not for you but for my happiness. You should not worry. Now, we do not want to digress, we have to move forward audaciously.’
These words of Pujya Bai Maharaj strengthened my resolve further. Today I have no words with which I can express my gratitude to Pujya Bai Maharaj.
